Veteran New Zealand fast bowler Lea Tahuhu has officially announced her retirement from ODI cricket, bringing an end to a remarkable chapter in her international career that spanned more than 15 years. The 35-year-old leaves the format as the White Ferns’ all-time leading wicket-taker in ODIs, having claimed 125 wickets in 103 matches at an impressive average of 28.01. Her departure marks the end of an era for New Zealand women’s cricket, with Tahuhu widely regarded as one of the most influential fast bowlers the team has produced.

A record-breaking ODI journey for Lea Tahuhu

Tahuhu’s journey in international cricket began in June 2011, when she made her ODI debut against Australia in Brisbane at just 20 years of age. From the very beginning, she stood out for her raw pace and aggressive style of bowling – qualities that are rare in women’s cricket. Over the years, she developed into the leader of New Zealand’s pace attack, consistently delivering match-changing spells with the ball.

Across more than a decade, Tahuhu became known for her ability to generate bounce, attack batters with pace, and deliver crucial breakthroughs when her team needed them the most. Her consistency eventually saw her rise to the top of New Zealand’s ODI bowling charts. By the time she decided to step away from the format, she had accumulated 125 wickets, the highest by any White Ferns bowler in ODI history, while maintaining a respectable economy rate of 4.54.

Her longevity and reliability also placed her among an elite group of cricketers. Tahuhu is one of only 12 players to represent the White Ferns in more than 100 ODI matches, highlighting her importance to the team over the years.

One of the defining moments of her career came in September 2021, when she recorded her maiden ODI five-wicket haul, finishing with 5/37 against England. The performance was particularly emotional as it came after she had returned to international cricket following a cancer scare, making the achievement even more meaningful.

Tahuhu also made her presence felt on the biggest stage in women’s cricket – the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. She represented New Zealand in four editions of the tournament (2013, 2017, 2022, and 2025), collecting 36 wickets in World Cup matches. That tally stands as the highest by a New Zealand bowler in the competition and places her ninth on the overall list of World Cup wicket-takers.

Her outstanding performances did not go unnoticed. In 2023, Tahuhu was honoured with a place in the ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year, a recognition of her continued impact in the format.

Tahuhu to focus on her T20 career

Tahuhu’s final ODI appearance came during the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, where she played against England. Reflecting on her long journey in international cricket, the veteran pacer expressed heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to represent her country.

“It’s always been a privilege and honour to pull on the White Ferns shirt in ODI cricket,” Tahuhu said in a statement released by New Zealand Cricket. “To get one game was an amazing feeling. To have been able to wear the shirt and represent my country and my family over 100 times in ODI cricket is something I never could have dreamt of. I’ll treasure every moment and walk away from the ODI game incredibly proud of what I’ve been able to achieve in the format.”

While stepping away from ODI cricket, Tahuhu has made it clear that her international journey is not over just yet. She will continue to represent New Zealand in T20 internationals, with her focus now firmly on helping the team defend their T20 World Cup title in England later this year.

“Winning the T20 World Cup in 2024 was a huge achievement and I’m really motivated to be over in England later this year to help this team defend our title,” she affirmed.

Also READ: Australia hand Alyssa Healy a winning farewell with 10 wickets win over India in the one-off Test

New Zealand Cricket has already confirmed that Tahuhu will remain part of the squad for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa, scheduled to begin on March 15.

White Ferns head coach Ben Sawyer also paid tribute to the veteran pacer, praising her consistency and leadership over the years.

“Lea has operated at the top of the women’s ODI game for 15 years, which is a huge achievement for a pace bowler,” Sawyer said. “Lea’s pace has always been a strength, but her competitiveness and drive to push this team forward has stood out and that has rubbed off on the younger bowlers who are now coming through and learning their craft in the ODI game.”

He added that finishing her ODI career as New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker is an achievement she should be “very proud of.”

Off the field, Tahuhu shares a special connection with New Zealand cricket as well. She is married to former White Ferns captain Amy Satterthwaite, and the couple welcomed their daughter in January 2020.

Also READ: ICC Women’s ODI Rankings – Smriti Mandhana and Alana King claim the top spots

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

Stock market began the week in red with Nifty trading below 24,000 and Sensex tumbling over 2,000 points as the Middle East conflict continues to intensify. As of 9:27 am, NSE Nifty50 was trading 23,703.60, down 746.85 points or 3.05%. BSE Sensex plunged 2,415.69 points or 3.06% to trade at 76,503.21. This follows a weak close on Dalal Street last week, when eight of the ten most valued companies together saw their market capitalisation shrink by Rs 2,81,581.53 crore.Analysts expect geopolitical developments to remain the key factor guiding market direction for this week as investors will be closely watching how the ongoing crisis in the Middle East could influence global crude oil prices. Market participants will also track global cues and the trading behaviour of foreign investors, which are likely to play a crucial role in shaping sentiment on Dalal Street.Oil prices jumped sharply on Monday, climbing above $114 per barrel for the first time since 2022, as the intensifying conflict involving Iran sparked fears of supply disruptions and risks to vital shipping routes in the Middle East. The global benchmark Brent crude rose past $114 a barrel after trading reopened on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, marking a 23% surge from Friday’s close of $92.69.According to Ajit Mishra, SVP, Research at Religare Broking Ltd, external factors will remain critical for market movement in the near term. “This week, movements in global crude oil prices and further geopolitical developments in West Asia will remain critical external variables influencing market direction. The week will also feature key macroeconomic releases that could shape near-term sentiment,” Mishra told PTI.Ponmudi R, CEO of Enrich Money, said that investors should prepare for continued volatility as geopolitical tensions continue to dominate market thinking. He further added that trends in foreign institutional investor (FII) flows and currency movements will also be closely watched, as they often reflect broader shifts in global capital allocation and confidence in emerging markets like India.Dalal Street had a difficult run last week, with benchmark indices posting steep losses. The BSE Sensex fell 2,368.29 points, or 2.91%, while the Nifty declined 728.2 points, or 2.89%.Foreign investors also stepped up their selling in Indian equities. Over the past four trading sessions, they withdrew nearly Rs 21,000 crore (around $2.3 billion) from the market as the crisis in the Middle East intensified.Meanwhile stock markets in Asia saw sharp losses, with Hong Kong’s HSI plunging over 700 points or 2.7% to 25,053. Japan’s Nikkei tumbled 3,880 points down to trade at 51,740 at around 9:00 am IST. Kospi also took a major hit, falling 7%. (Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav celebrate the wicket of New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips. (ANI Photo)

After breaking a decade-long title drought with the 2024 T20 World Cup win, India went all in with a modern, aggressive T20 identity. After veterans like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja stepped away, the think-tank designed a younger, braver side in which roles rather than reputations held sway. The subsequent two-year stretch was marked by inflection points in leadership, selection and tactics. TOI decodes what went into India’s transition from a powerhouse of individuals to a relentless T20-winning machine…Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!MOVING ON FROM HARDIK PANDYA AS CAPTAINCY OPTIONHardik Pandya was long considered the heir apparent to the T20 throne but the shift away from his leadership was a strategic pivot towards stability. One, his fitness was dodgy. Secondly, freeing him up from captaincy duties allowed him to grow into the role of the side’s primary allrounder. This allowed India’s most valuable allround asset to stay physically and mentally fresh for high pressure situations.

APPOINTING SURYAKUMAR AS T20-ONLY CAPTAINHanding the T20 captaincy to Suryakumar Yadav, a one-format player, was a bold strategic move. It marked a clear shift toward format specialisation, ensuring leadership continuity in the shortest format. Known for his fearless batting and innovative mindset, Surya embodied the modern T20 philosophy India wanted to adopt. His leadership emphasised intent, aggressive Powerplay batting and tactical flexibility with bowling changes. With his appointment, India created a structure where decisions were driven purely by T20 demands.DROPPING SHUBMAN GILL FOR INTENT-BASED SELECTIONShubman Gill’s exclusion was perhaps the loudest statement of the new era. Despite his technical brilliance and ODI dominance, his ‘classical’ approach was deemed too conservative. The management prioritised strike-rates over averages. By moving on from Gill, India sent a clear message that pedigree alone wouldn’t guarantee a spot. This paved the way for a more explosive, though volatile, top order in the form of Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan.BACKING SANJU SAMSON AS ROHIT’S REPLACEMENTReplacing a titan like Rohit Sharma was no small feat but Sanju Samson’s like-for-like elevation worked wonders. While initially facing familiar ‘inconsistency’ labels, the batter delivered just when it mattered most, justifying the management’s decision to stick by him through the lean patches. Reintroducing him as a primary aggressor during the World Cup provided India with a ’keeperbatter who could exploit the Powerplay better than most. His ability to hit good balls for boundaries changed the team’s offensive baseline, turning him from a backup option into the indispensable tactical heartbeat.MAINTAINING LEFT-RIGHT BATTING COMBINATIONSOne of the tactical commitments from India was to maintain the leftright combinations throughout the batting order. Pairings such as Abhishek Sharma with Sanju Samson at the top, followed by Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav ensured bowlers rarely settled into rhythm. Later partnerships involving Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya continued the pattern. The constant change of angles disrupted field placements and bowling plans. By structuring the lineup around alternating batting hands, India added a tactical layer that increased scoring opportunities and forced opponents to continuously adjust match-ups.BACKING SPECIALIST FINISHERSIndia placed greater emphasis on specialist finishers rather than relying solely on top-order dominance. Players like Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh were groomed for clearly defined late overs roles. Their job was not to anchor the innings but to maximise scoring in the final five overs against pace and spin alike. This shift recognised a key modern T20 reality that games are often decided in the final phase.INCLUDING MULTIPLE ALLROUNDERSAllrounders became central to the squad composition, providing flexibility in both batting depth and bowling options. Players like Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar allowed India to extend the batting lineup without compromising bowling resources. This multi-skilled approach made tactical adjustments easier, particularly on different pitches and conditions. It also helped captain Suryakumar to react dynamically to match situations, ensuring that the side maintained balance even while fielding aggressive batting combinations.

NEW DELHI: The Indian embassy in Riyadh on early Monday denied reports of any Indian deaths in an incident where an Iranian “military projectile” hit a residential building in Saudi Arabia’s Al Kharj amid crisis in the Middle East region. However, there was an injury reported to one Indian national.In a post on X, the embassy said the injured person is being treated at a government hospital in Al Kharj and that officials are in touch with Saudi authorities. The embassy wrote, “It is a matter of relief that there has been no Indian fatality in the unfortunate incident at Al Kharj yesterday evening. The Embassy has been in touch with the concerned Saudi authorities regarding this issue. Counsellor (CW) Shri Y. Sabir visited Al Kharj last night and met the injured Indian national involved in this unfortunate incident. He is currently receiving treatment at a government hospital in Al Kharj.”The embassy’s statement came after the General Directorate of Saudi Civil Defence confirmed the projectile fell on a residential area in Al-Kharj Governorate. The Civil Defence said two people were killed and several others injured. The fatalities were Bangladeshi nationals, along with 11 injured Bangladeshis and one injured Indian, according to the agency.The incident comes amid rising tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Earlier, celebrations broke out in Iran after Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was named the new Supreme Leader. Press TV reported that the IRGC and General Staff of the Armed Forces pledged support for Mojtaba Khamenei, and large crowds took to the streets after the Assembly of Experts made the appointment.Meanwhile, amid rising global oil prices due to the conflict, US President Donald Trump said the “short-term” spike is worth it if it eliminates Iran’s nuclear threat. On Truth Social, he wrote, “Short term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over, is a very small price to pay for USA, and World, Safety and Peace. ONLY FOOLS WOULD THINK DIFFERENTLY!”

Iran launched multiple ballistic missiles at Israel on Sunday, including at least one carrying a cluster bomb warhead, reported the Times of Israel. The attack marked the sixth salvo of the day targeting Israel.Video posted on social media appeared to show what could be sub‑munitions from the Iranian cluster warhead falling over Israel. In the footage, several glowing objects can be seen descending separately across the sky, spreading out over a wide area.Six people were injured, one of them seriously, at two impact sites in central Israel. Photos and videos from the scenes showed widespread damage, and more than a dozen impact sites were reported across the region. Police officials said the spread of the impacts indicated that the Iranian missile was likely carrying a cluster bomb warhead. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said search and rescue soldiers were dispatched to the scenes.Cluster bombs or cluster munitions are weapons designed to release many smaller explosive devices, known as submunitions or bomblets, from a single missile, rocket, or aircraft bomb. “The warhead of such missiles opens up while descending and scatters around 20 smaller munitions with around 2.5 kg of explosives in a radius of around 8 km,” the IDF said.Unlike conventional missiles that explode in a single blast, these weapons burst open mid‑air, scattering dozens of smaller explosive bomblets across a large zone. Military analysts warn that the introduction of these weapons changes the dynamics of the conflict. Instead of a single explosion at one point, a cluster warhead can scatter many smaller bombs across a wide area, increasing civilian casualties and causing greater infrastructure destruction.Israeli experts have indicated that Iran might have received help from external sources for the deadly missiles, with speculation of possible transfer of military technology from either Russia or China.The 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), which entered into force in 2010, bans the use, development, production, acquisition, and transfer of cluster munitions. So far, 111 countries and 12 other entities have signed the treaty.

Why cluster bombs are tricky

Cluster bombs are among the most controversial weapons used in modern warfare because “once the main warhead opens in the air, the bomblets spread across a large area and detonate on impact.”Designed to cover wide zones rather than strike a single target, cluster munitions cannot precisely distinguish between military and civilian targets, drawing strong criticism from humanitarian groups. Key features include hitting multiple targets at once, scattering dozens of bomblets over a large area, and increasing the risk of damage to vehicles, infrastructure, and people. Because the bomblets spread across a broad area, their use poses significant risks to civilians.Israel’s Iron Dome is designed to track a single incoming projectile, such as a Grad or Fajr rocket. If the rocket carries a cluster warhead, it remains a single target for most of its flight. Iron Dome’s Tamir interceptor uses a proximity fuse: when it gets close to the incoming rocket, it explodes, shredding the rocket’s casing with shrapnel. If hit early enough, the cluster submunitions inside can be destroyed or neutralized mid-air before scattering.For long-range ballistic missiles, Israel relies on the Arrow Missile Defense System, which intercepts targets at high altitudes, often outside the atmosphere with Arrow 3.Cluster warheads complicate missile defense because the small bomblets released over a wide area cannot be tracked individually by missile defense radars. Systems like Iron Dome or Arrow must attempt to stop multiple falling submunitions at once, increasing the chance that some may slip through. One of the most serious risks comes from unexploded bomblets, which can remain on the ground like hidden landmines, posing long-term threats to civilians and emergency responders even years after a conflict ends.

Aaron Rodgers, the NFL legend, has kept his wife, Brittani, out of the spotlight for close to a year now.A few days ago, as Aaron Rodgers opened up about his married life, he also called out all his ex girlfriends, including Danica Patrick, for invading his privacy and speaking about him in public. Amid this, it seems she has lost her job at Sky Sports.

Aaron Rodgers’ ex girlfriend, Danica Patrick, undergoes a major change in her life amid his controversial remarks against her

A few hours ago, Sky Sports released its broadcating lineup and fans were shocked to see the former NASCAR driver, Danica Patrick’s name missing from the list.While this has sparked panic among fans, many have also linked it to Aaron Rodgers’ controversial remarks against all his ex girlfriends.For the unversed, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ star player, Aaron Rodgers recently made an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show where he made comments against his ex girlfriends.Aaron Rodgers said, “I dealt with clinically bipolar. I dealt with depressed relevance-seeking…”The 41 year old NFL icon added, “I dealt with people that wanted to search out other possibilities before they could commit to me and then they go on TV talking about how I ruined their lives and all this s***…”The Pittsburgh Steelers’ star player continued, “I just want to say, ‘Move on with your life. Stop lying about me. Just move on with your life and be happy.’”

Danica Patrick has stayed away from responding to Aaron Rodgers’ controversial comments about their relationship

Though Aaron Rodgers did not specifically name Danica Patrick in his controversial comments, fans have now linked her getting fired from Sky Sports to his remarks.For the unversed, three of Aaron Rodgers’ ex girlfriends, actresses Olivia Munn and Shailene Woodley, and the former NASCAR legend Danica Patrick, have gone public with the way the NFL icon allegedly treated them and the pain they have felt.This has happened at different times in the last few years but the NFL legend, Aaron Rodgers, has always maintained his distance from their comments in public.At this point in time, neither of Aaron Rodgers’ ex girlfriends has responded to his controversial comments about their statements.For now, it seems the Pittsburgh Steelers’ star player, Aaron Rodgers, is pretty happy and content in his married life as he continues to seek privacy for his wife, Brittani.

In a moment of pure sporting theater and raw emotion, Australia bid farewell to one of its greatest ever players, Alyssa Healy, who announced her retirement from international cricket following a clinical victory over India in the one-off pink-ball Test at the WACA Ground in Perth. As the final wicket fell, cementing Australia’s dominant position, the scene shifted from a hard-fought contest to a celebration of a career that will be remembered for its brilliance, impact, and unprecedented success.

Alyssa Healy: A career marked by triumph and innovation

Healy’s journey in international cricket has been nothing short of extraordinary. Over the course of her 16-year career, she transformed the art of wicketkeeping, combining impeccable glovework with destructive batting that often took the game away from opponents in the blink of an eye. Her 8 World Cup titles – a record in both men’s and women’s cricket – are a testament to her longevity and unparalleled success in major tournaments. Healy was not just a player; she was an entertainer, a force of nature who thrilled crowds around the world with her innovative strokeplay and unwavering competitive spirit.

Aussie players give a heartening tribute to Healy

The moment Healy was lifted onto the shoulders of her teammates will be forever etched in the minds of those who witnessed it. Following Australia’s resounding victory, which came in just 34.2 overs on the third day of the Test, the team clustered around their departing captain. In a touching gesture of respect and affection, Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner kneeled down, and Healy, with a wide smile and tears welling in her eyes, clambered onto their shoulders. The entire Australian team, flanked by a guard of honor formed by the Indian players, then began the “chairing” off ceremony, a tradition often reserved for retiring legends.

Here’s the video:

It took a second to get the process right chairing Alyssa Healy over to her sign 😂 pic.twitter.com/J9rSJTW3Ok

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) March 8, 2026

Also READ: Australia hand Alyssa Healy a winning farewell with 10 wickets win over India in the one-off Test

As Healy was carried around the WACA Ground, the crowd, including her family and friends, erupted in a thunderous standing ovation. Spectators waved flags, banners, and personalized signs, all celebrating the contribution she had made to the sport. The Indian players, led by their captain Harmanpreet Kaur, applauded warmly as she passed, in a fitting show of respect for a formidable opponent. Healy, clearly moved by the outpouring of love and admiration, waved to the crowd, blowing kisses and soaking in the atmosphere of her final moments on the international stage.

Also READ: AUS-W vs IND-W: Fans erupt as Annabel Sutherland lights up Perth with record-breaking century on Day 2 of the one-off Test

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.